ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE LAMELLAE AND GRANA IN THE CHLOROPLASTS OF ZEA MAYS L

The fine structure of the chloroplasts of maize (Zea mays L.) has been investigated by electron microscopic examination of ultrathin sections of leaves fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide solutions. Both the parenchyma sheath and mesophyll chloroplasts contain a system of densely staining lamellae about 125 A thick immersed in a finely granular matrix material (the stroma), and are bounded by a thin limiting membrane which often appears as a double structure. In the parenchyma sheath chloroplasts, the lamellae usually extend the full width of the disc-shaped plastids, and grana are absent. The mesophyll chloroplasts, however, contain numerous grana of a fairly regular cylindrical form. These consist of highly ordered stacks of dense lamellae, the interlamellar spacing being ca. 125 A. The grana are interlinked by a system of lamellae (intergrana lamellae) which are on the average about one-half as numerous as the lamellae within the grana. In general, this appears to be due to a bifurcation of the lamellae at the periphery of the granum, but more complex interrelationships have been observed. The lamellae of the parenchyma sheath chloroplasts and those of both the grana and intergrana regions of the mesophyll chloroplasts exhibit a compound structure when oriented normally to the plane of the section. A central exceptionally dense line (ca. 35 A thick) designated the P zone is interposed between two less dense layers (the L zones, ca. 45 A thick), the outer borders of which are defined by thin dense lines (the C zones). Within the grana, the C zones, by virtue of their close apposition, give rise to thin dense intermediate lines (I zones) situated midway between adjacent P zones. A model of the lamellar structure is proposed in which mixed lipide layers (L zones) are linked to a protein layer (P zone) by non-polar interaction. Chlorophyll is distributed over the entire lamellar surface and held in the structure by van der Waals interaction of the phytol "tail" with the hydrocarbon moieties of the mixed lipide layers. The evidence in favour of the model is briefly discussed.

Benzene and total hydrocarbon exposures in the upstream petroleum oil and gas industry

Occupational exposures to benzene and total hydrocarbons (THC) in the Canadian upstream petroleum industry are described in this article. A total of 1547 air samples taken by 5 oil companies in various sectors (i.e., conventional oil/gas, conventional gas, heavy oil processing, drilling and pipelines) were evaluated and summarized. The data includes personal long- and short-term samples and area long-term samples. The percentage of samples over the occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 3.2 mg/m3 or one part per million for benzene, for personal long-term samples ranges from 0 to 0.7% in the different sectors, and area long-term samples range from 0 to 13%. For short-term personal samples, the exceedance for benzene is at 5% with respect to the OEL of 16 mg/m3 or five parts per million in the conventional gas sector and none in the remaining sectors. THC levels were not available for all sectors and had limited data points in others. The percentage exceedance of the OEL of 280 mg/m3 or 100 parts per million for THC as gasoline ranged from 0 to 2.6% for personal long-term samples. It is recommended that certain operations such as glycol dehydrators be carefully monitored and that a task-based monitoring program be included along with the traditional long- and short-term personal exposure sampling.

Effects of Asphaltene Aggregation in Model Heptane-Toluene Mixtures on Stability of Water-in-Oil Emulsions

As part of an ongoing investigation into the stability of water-in-crude oil emulsions, model oils have been utilized to further probe the effects of crude solvency as well as specific resin-asphaltene interactions on emulsion stability. These model oils were constructed by dissolving varying amounts of resins and/or asphaltenes in a mixture of heptane and toluene. The resins and asphaltenes used in this study were isolated from four different crude types-Arab Berri (AB), Arab Heavy (AH), Alaska North Slope (ANS), and San Joaquin Valley (SJV)-and characterized in a previous study using heptane precipitation of the asphaltenes followed by an extrographic separation of the resins from silica gel. Asphaltenes dissolved in heptol at concentrations of just 0.5% were shown to generate emulsions which were even more stable than those generated from their respective whole crude oils. Some types of resins (e.g., from AH and SJV) also demonstrated an ability to stabilize emulsions although these resin-stabilized emulsions were considerably less stable than those prepared with asphaltenes. The primary factors governing the stability of these model emulsions were the aromaticity of the crude medium (as controlled by the heptane:toluene ratio), the concentration of asphaltenes, and the availability of solvating resins in the oil (i.e., the resin/asphaltene or R/A ratio). The model emulsions were the most stable when the crude medium was 30-40% toluene and in many cases at small R/A ratios (i.e., R/A </=1). This strongly supports the theory that asphaltenes are the most effective in stabilizing emulsions when they are near the point of incipient precipitation. The types of resins and asphaltenes used to construct these model oils also played a role in determining the resultant emulsion stability which indicates the importance of specific resin-asphaltene interactions. The interfacially active components that stabilized these model systems were the most polar and/or condensed portions of the resin and asphaltene fractions as determined by elemental and neutron activation analyses. All of these results point to the significance of the solubility state of the asphaltenes in determining the emulsifying potential of these crude oils. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997Academic Press

High-resolution electron microscopy of octacalcium phosphate and its hydrolysis products

The hydrolysis and dehydration products of synthetic octacalcium phosphate (OCP) were studied using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, chemical analysis, and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). A "collapsed OCP" phase, identified by a characteristic 16.5 A reflection in its X-ray diffraction pattern, was observed when OCP was dehydrated. High resolution electron microscopy of the hydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed reaction products also revealed local contrast features with an approximate 16.5 A periodicity. These features were consistent with a collapse of the OCP crystal structure and subsequent formation of epitaxial intergrowths of OCP and hydroxyapatite. Chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction of these samples were similar to previously reported calcium-deficient apatites. The hydrolysis of OCP to form calcium-deficient apatites is a reaction pathway which may be of importance in understanding the crystallographic changes occurring during the early stages of bone, calculus, and dental enamel formation.

Unusual side effects of clomipramine associated with yawning

Although there have been previous reports of decreased sexual capacity as a side effect of antidepressants (1-3), the authors know of no previous records of increased capacity of the type described in the following reports, or of reports of side effects associated with yawning. Observation of unusual yawning-associated side effects is now reported, in order to alert clinicians to a possible side effect that can influence patient-compliance with the prescribed medication regimen.

A high-resolution electron microscope study of synthetic and biological carbonated apatites

A series of synthetic carbonated apatites and human dental enamels characterized by chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction was studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Steps on the surfaces of apatite crystals, often only a few unit cells high and occasionally one unit cell high, were observed by their Fresnel diffraction contrast. Highly substituted synthetic carbonated apatites appeared to have more irregular and finer-textured surface features than materials with less carbonate substitution. The surface features of enamel apatite crystal were also irregular, but surface steps were less frequently aligned in crystallographic directions. Complex strain fields due to radiation damage centers were observed in some crystals and the fine structure of dislocations and grain boundaries in synthetic apatites was resolved at high magnification. Experimental lattice-image contrasts, in favorable circumstances, could be matched to computer-simulated images and were found to contain detail at near atomic resolution, around 2.0-2.5 A.

Negative impact of computerized record keeping in a psychiatric department

A general hospital psychiatric inpatient department which had been regarded as efficient and effective in its functioning, underwent rapid deterioration after the introduction of a computerized system of charting and record keeping. The deterioration was attributed to: 1) Impeded communication among the staff; 2) Loss of time available for patient care; 3) Staff frustration with the system and subsequent feelings of anger and helplessness being communicated to the patients. The authors describe the development of this deterioration and discuss possible psychodynamic factors and suggested corrective-preventative measures.

Hyperlipaemia in ponies

The case histories and clinical findings of 15 ponies with hyperlipaemia are presented. The disease was characterised by hyperlipidaemia with inappetance, progressing somnolence, muscle fasciculation, diarrhoea, and ventral oedema as the predominant clinical findings. Post mortem examinations of 12 ponies showed extensive lipidosis and vascular thrombosis with widespread secondary changes. Most cases occurred in late pregnant and early lactating mares in the summer months and it is postulated that the disease was initiated in this group by a falling nutritional plane in the face of high nutrient requirements.

Polarographic Determination of Piperazine in Animal Feeds

A simple and rapid polarographic method has been developed for the analysis of piperazine in animal feeds. A polarographically reducible condensation product of piperazine dihydrochloride is formed in the presence of excess formaldehyde in pH 5 buffer solution; the diffusion current of the product is measured at —0.98 v vs. a saturated calomel reference electrode.

A general method for the specific staining of intracellular antigens with ferritin-antibody conjugates

A general method is described whereby an intracellular macromolecule can be specifically stained with its antibody conjugated to ferritin. In this method cells or cell organelles are fixed, embedded in bovine serum albumin cross-linked with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde, and then sectioned. This procedure preserves antigenic determinants as well as the cellular ultrastructure. The application of the ferritin-antibody conjugate to the section produces specific staining of the exposed antigen.